Customer Reviews

TomTom Navigator USA Bluetooth GPS for Palm T3

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I purchased this just after getting my Tungsten T3. On line reviews suggested it would be good and it is.

I live in New Jersey where the road signs are almost useless (you are constantly directed to the parkway but not to where you are trying to get to!). This makes all the difference. Simply put in a street address and it gives you clear turn by turn directions (audio and picture). It never gets upset if you make a wrong turn - just relentlessly keeps directing. Recalculation is a couple of seconds. Storing frequently used locations is easy too.

To use it you need to have a PC, not a MAC (or at least to borrow one to download the maps) as the tomtom download software will only run on a PC.

The first one I got wouldn't connect reliably to the T3 and I would frequently have to reset the palm to make them work together. Online tomtom help were great and they replaced it by return of post. New one works perfectly. They claim this is unusual and in this case I believe them!

Things I think you need to know!

Get an SD card when you get this - there isn't one in the package. I got a 256Mbyte one, you could get away with 128Mbyte s but 256 lets me get NY, NJ, VA and CA all on one card <160 Mbytes.

Don't throw away the plastic that the CDs are wrapped in away as the tiny sticker on it is very important when you install the software.

Don't leave your T3 running the software when you aren't using it as if the T3 comes on accidentally because of an alarm or an accidental button press it won't turn off until the battary is almost completely flat! - The T3 doesn't turn off with the TomTom application running which is good as it would make navigation difficult

Be patient with the map download or use a USB->SD card widget for your PC (supported by the tomtom software) as otherwise map download can take 25 minutes or so!

Do upgrade to the latest version of the TomTom software if you don't have it - free download from TomTom.com

hope this is useful!

Dan

We bought Tom Tom & the bluetooth GPS receiver for our company, to do some testing (we write mobile Location-based app's) and also use it ourselves while visiting clients.

The first person to install it was not terribly happy with it and passed it to a colleague, who wasn't impressed either: the mapping software kept looking for the GPS receiver, would not find it over the bluetooth connection and refuse to do anything else - one could not even use the maps to just look up the way.

Also, even when the GPS was 'found', as soon as the connection was lost, the Tom Tom Navigator kept asking "Where is the GPS?" essentially not allowing one to do anything else with the PDA.
This continued to happen even after the software was updated with an allegedly newer version that fixed this very bug.

Things got worse, when my colleague, having had enough of it, passed it on to me: at this stage, as I was the third to install the Tom Tom software, it refused to let me register an 'activation code' - this despite the fact that the two previous installation had long been removed from the respective PDA's.

Quite naively, I thought that contacting their customer support service, this would have been an easy to fix issue: all after all, we are the legal licensees of the software, it's not like we are pirating it!!

Well, their customer support (that can only be contacted online and takes days to get back to us) does not even read the messages, and just refers us to the licensing agreement: that's it! They did it the first time, and when asked to please address the matter, they just sent it in PDF form!!

I can't believe a company can be unhelpful, their customers support is essentially saying: "we have this nonsensical 2-shots and your gone policy, we don't care about what you've done - you can't install it again, tough luck!"

So, if you do buy the Tom Tom, just hope your PDA does not go "off power" (which sometimes it happens) and you have to re-install it more than once, or you're gone!

This navigator works very well. It is aware of nearly all roads I have come across in the UK and London. I can't imagine needing anything more and I'd recommend it. However, there are a few minor issues of which you need to be aware:
1) Tall, close buildings will cause the GPS receiver to report its position incorrectly leading to erroneous navigation directions. Beware in 'urban canyon' areas!
2) The GPS unit has a single button to turn it on/off. A short press turns it on, a long press and hold turns it off. So its easy to turn on, harder to turn off. If you place it in your pocket or a bag, it invariably gets turned on and the battery runs out after a few hours. Very frustrating if you only find out when you want to use it!
3) The navigation software seems a little erratic sometimes. Choosing to navigate to a given favourite location can often get it navigating to another. You can work around this but it is odd and frustrating.

I bought this product in June 2004 and used it regularly since then. I had a rough time installing the program and activating the maps but with the help of customer service I got through it. Simply stated this product works. I live in Miami and travel extensively locally and in other states. While it may not always provide the shortest route from point A to point B, it always gets you there which provides great comfort, particularly when you are travelling in unfamiliar territory. I had a problem with the mounting hardware however it was promptly replaced after I advised customer service via the Tomtom website.

Bought from amazon but ran into the following problems:
a. The external antena was missing. (friends version from j&r has it)
b. Cannot active the major road (anyone actually activated it)
c. Sometimes the software doesn't recognize the bt gps and I had to delete it from bt pref and add it back in.
d. Cannot seem to find a user group for this.
e. GPS loses the signal when crossing lower deck of Geroge washing bridge (between ny and nj) this is probably expected.
f. The software has been updated on the web but still there is no walk mode as in the ppc version.

Software 3-D display is very good and maps are accurate. but if I have a ppc i will probably get the ppc version.

This product was not compatible with my Tungsten T3, which it's supposed to be used on. It made my SD card freeze up, even though I bought a Palm SD card to insure compatibility. Once the SD card is frozen, you can't do anything with the TomTom software, and the Palm support people won't help because they say the problem is caused by the TomTom software. This product is not currently available on Amazon, which may be because it just doesn't work as represented.

I have a long history of ordering items from Amazon - and have always been more then happy. However, my most recent order arrived today and I am very disappointed. When did Amazon start selling - previously sold - items as new? The package I received had obviously been previously opened; The SD card is missing; The GPS unit was not secured inside the package; Other parts were freely scattered about; I assume there should be a manual; The CD package containing maps was opened (and came complete with smudged CDs). I could go on. I paid for a new item, paid extra for 2nd day shipping (so it would arrive in time for an upcoming trip)and instead got a totally unusable product.

Had it 6 months now and it has crashed my palm 90% time I've used it! When it did work the routes didn't make any since. (routing through neighborhoods instead of freeways????). I have called TT support 11 times, talked to 3 supervisors and have received 3 promises of a replacement SD card with pre loaded Navigator. For 3 weeks I have not received anything (including 2 "I'll call you back as soon as I get this straightened out" from the Tech support Representative) Their Web and live support are a JOKE! On their support page, I've tried to search for a solution to the many problems I've had and halve the time I'd get re-directed to BUY more products! DON'T THINK IT WON'T HAPPEN TO YOU.....PLAY IT SMART/SAFE AND GET A DIFFERENT PRODUCT.

I also just received this product and it was missing parts for the mounting cradle and the attachment cables. Also it appeared to be a previously opened item as there were loose packing materials in the box and the manual was scuffed and dirty. There appears to be a problem with Amazon or this supplier. Either way I would avoid them both as there are many other reliable etailers on the web.

The TomTom bluetooth GPS receiver for Palm T3 is small and easy to carry. The map is clear and have all the information that you need. The voice is clear and it can guide you to wherever you want to go in North America as long as you have the address of your destination.